Once Upon a Valley
Copyright© 2025 by Dick Conrad
Chapter 6
Difference A Day Makes
It was to be another cloudless summers day and the girls spent the remainder of the morning round the pool. Events between them had changed their world. They had lost all interest in the machinations of the Meon Hospitality Project.
Matthew could relax over it as far as Pamela was concerned.
She would tell Max it was off upon his return.
Mat’s behaviour had got out of control though. He needed reining in somewhat. Before long the two of them had figured out a plan of action.
Pamela phoned her solicitors, making an appointment for later that afternoon.
After getting smartened up they set off in the Mercedes for Wreckem & Slayers of Alton.
After the consultation with Mr Slayer junior, Pamela handed over the large sealed envelope for safekeeping. The solicitor then rang Matthew Norman-Acres at Meon Manor saying that Pamela wished to get his advice on an issue they had been discussing. Mr Slayer left Pamela then to speak on the telephone to her brother in private.
Pamela’s surprise tactics had her brother completely on the defensive; what was she doing at the solicitors he’d asked?
Pamela then told Mat that he had driven her to take refuge in this manner. Unless he ceased his domineering ways, he’d face a prosecution on his sexual behaviour. She had lodged the evidence with Mr Slayer.
There was a long silence before Matthew answered. It began quietly but ended loudly,
“That swine Max has put you up to this; God! Just to get his way on that nasty project of his. How could you Pamela!”
The line went dead in her hand.
It had all gone awfully wrong.
High Summer Several days had passed since the mysterious death of Max.
He was found dead, yet fully dressed in the pool by the milkman.
Apparently, he’d died of a heart attack upon his return from abroad.
Foul play had not yet been ruled out by the police, although there is no evidence to support it.
His activity in Brussels, and the disappearance of Matthew Norman-Acres are further lines of enquiry.
As the new proprietor of Meon Hospitality, Valerie Grey now emanated a new self-confidence!
She would be reshaping things for the future; knowing her son was within reach gave her so much strength.
But it was her infatuation with Pamela which had been occupying much of her time.